End of the road for car tax disc

After more than 90 years affixed to British motorists' cars, the tax disc will be scrapped in just five weeks time.

Windscreen tax discs will be abolished from October 1 and replaced by electronic records where police cameras will check number plates to catch owners who have not paid.

For the first time, motorists will also be able to pay for their vehicle excise duty (VED) by monthly direct debit, spreading the burden for hard-pressed drivers, although this will cost an extra 5%.

The extra charge for paying for six months at a time will be reduced from 10% to 5% and the two measures are expected to save motorists who spread their payments over £20 million a year.

Scrapping the tax disk is expected to save businesses a total of £7 million a year in administration costs, but customers who are not online will still be able to tax their car in person at a Post Office or on the phone.

A Treasury spokesman said: " This is a visual symbol of how we are moving government into the modern age and making dealing with government more hassle free."

Officials said the tax disc was no longer needed for enforcement purposes, with the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency and police already relying on an electronic register.

Vehicle tax was introduced in the 1888 budget and the system of excise duty applying specifically to motor vehicles was introduced in 1920, with the tax disc appearing the following year.

AA roads policy head Paul Watters said: "The tax disc is now technically redundant with real-time online records available to the police and other agencies.

"The disc has been with us a long time and it will take some getting used to not having it. However, reducing bureaucracy, improving efficiency and security will save money that can be better spent on improving other Drive and Vehicle Licensing Agency services."